Blogger exposes Tolbert’s beef with steakhouse

Eric Pearson, president and CEO of the El Paso Community Foundation, from left; Oscar Venegas, chairman of the board of directors for the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Richard Dayoub, president & CEO of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce; West Miller, president of Centergy Retail; Cheryl Henry, Ruth's Hospitality Group president and chief operating officer; and El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser stand after the official "steak cutting" ceremony celebrating the opening of Ruth's Chris Steak House at the Fountains at Farah.(Photo: RUBEN R. RAMIREZ/EL PASO TIMES FILE)Buy Photo

The email was sent by Tolbert to Eric Fike, the restaurant’s general manager, on Aug. 15 — the date of the grand opening and “steak cutting” ceremony at the first El Paso location at the Fountains at Farah shopping center.

The restaurant sent invitations to some elected officials and other community leaders for complimentary pre-opening rehearsal dinners held the Friday and Saturday before the Aug. 15 opening day ceremony. Those attending were requested to make a $25 donation to the El Paso Community Foundation's Classroom Fund.

According to Tolbert's email, City Council members were left off of the invitation list.

“I find it very disappointing if not rude that your establishment invited the County Commissioners to a dinner this past weekend but that you failed to invite City Council members. Apparently you invited the Mayor and his staff which is great. However, you slapped Council in the face. As this news spreads to other City Council Representatives, it is hard to find anyone too supportive of Ruth’s Chris,” Tolbert said in the email.

Tolbert told the El Paso Times on Wednesday that he regrets writing the email.

“It’s not the brightest thing I’ve ever done,” Tolbert said.

Tolbert said he thought that the restaurant not inviting the City Council to the pre-opening events was a marketing faux pas.

“They had the pre-dinner and should have invited the council. They invited all of the county commissioners and mayor — they should have invited the council,” Tolbert said.

Tolbert said the council was invited to the grand opening during which the restaurant held a steak cutting as opposed to a ribbon cutting. The email was sent at 4:25 p.m., three hours after the steak cutting.

“We stood there for two hours,” Tolbert said. “I was just kind of blowing off steam.”

“If I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t do it,” Tolbert said. “I let my temper get the better of me.”